Dear APUSH newbies,
We ain't gonna sugar coat it, this class is hard. This class is scary. But we survived and so can you. Here's some advice and things we wish we knew beforehand from the unfortunate souls who've gone before you.
- Don't take it.
- If you need help or someone to complain to, holler at us. We get it. We won't judge ya.
- You're gonna suffer, but you're gonna be happy about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
- If you don't like history, this class is going to be rough and the only way you're going to survive is to have fun with the kids in your class.
- Have study groups.
- Make a Facebook messenger group chat or a GroupMe with all the kids in your class. It will save your butt not only with APUSH but with APLang too.
- Take pictures of the board.
- Take pictures of assignments.
- Crash course is great https://m.youtube.com/
- Read the book. Don't skip on the readings.
- If you happen to mess up and skip a reading, use the study guides from the website on the back of the book. http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.
- Videos are more entertaining than powerpoints and usually score well too. Pretend you're John Green and you're the star of crash course.
- Read the chapters for ALL the topical presentations. Not just your specific chapter. You'll get lost if you don't.
- SIGN UP FOR REMIND 101
- When you find good resources, SHARE THEM.
- If someone shares a resource you don't like or that doesn't make sense to you, don't use it. Don't waste your time on things that don't benefit you. Find something that does.
- Take notes in a way that makes the most sense to you. Your notes are yours.
- Take notes of the reasons why people did the things they did.
- Take notes of names and dates.
- Google the questions to the thematic reviews because sometimes the answers are online. https://quizlet.com/57383347/
- The kids who took APUSH last year typically scored better on the APLang test than those who did not.
- Do not call Mr. Henry "Timmy." At least, not to his face.
- Memes are always a good idea.
- Be as sassy and funny as you want on your in class presentations but always be very formal on your essays.
- Use this thing for essays. https://www.paperrater.com
- If you fail an assignment or essay and have to do it over again, do not panic. You are smart and capable. If Mr. Henry didn't think you could do better, he wouldn't give you a chance. He would just kick you out. I failed my first two essays in that class and still got a 4 on the AP test.
- Synthesis is everything. Synthesis is hard to learn and hard to teach. Adam Norris has synthesis pointers in most of his videos. https://m.youtube.com/
- Learn big words. AP test graders like them.
- Be partners with the golden child whenever possible. The golden child for us was Sam Garcia. You'll figure out who it is pretty quick. Every class has one.
- If you can't be partners with the golden child, don't be the group that goes up against the golden child.
- KING ANDREW JACKSON IS IMPORTANT.
- FEMINISM IS IMPORTANT.
- If the snuggle affair has taught us anything, it's that we're all in this together. Do not blame each other for anything. You are a team.
- Take the practice tests and take them seriously.
- If you can survive the first term, you can survive the rest of the year.
- Stop trying to make fetch happen. It's not gonna happen.
- Have an open mind and don't get upset about what the book says. Perspective is everything.
- Fight unfair questions. It doesn't just affect you, it affects everyone.
- When grading each other's quizzes, don't ask if you should give them the point. Just give it to them. Have each other's backs.
- Don't grade harshly. Once you get labeled as the harsh grader, it never goes away.
- The completion of the transcontinental rail road is the single most important event in history.
- Never let this die. https://www.facebook.com/
- If you plan on having surgery anytime during the year, let us know. We will pray for you and your grades.
- Mr. Henry is usually willing to let kids come in before or after school to make things up. Appreciate that because not all teachers are so kind.
- Do not sass Mr. Henry during first term. Other terms it's okay.
- Make your presentations personal and important to you. Sometimes you will surprise yourself.
- If Henry teases you, it means he likes you.
- If Henry takes you out in the hall and yells at you, don't panic. You're not stupid. You're not a failure. You're not a bad student. He was probably having a bad day. Don't run to the office to transfer out. Stay and prove to him that you are capable.
- Mention that you're thinking of taking APGov next year even if you're not. Henry will automatically like you 38164% more.
- Mr. Henry is a liberal, atheist, democrat living in conservative, mormon, republican Utah. He knows he's a minority and will never ever say or do anything that could be taken as him trying to force his views on you. He's here to teach history. He's here to give you facts and let you make up your mind for yourself.
- Mr. Henry is a liberal, atheist, democrat living in conservative, mormon, republican Utah. He knows he's a minority and will never ever say or do anything that could be taken as him trying to force his views on you. That being said, have an open mind and ask him his personal opinion every now and then. He's a smart guy and you might have more in common than you thought.
- Mr. Henry is vegan.
- Bleazard and Henry are NOT related in any way. Do not let either of them convince you otherwise.
- Buy Mr. Henry a singing Valentine.
- Ask questions, start discussions and share opinions. Learn from each other.
- If you don't get it, 9/10 times no one else gets it either.
- Your AP test scores do not define you.
- Your grades do not define you.
- Others opinions do not define you.
- Mr. Henry's opinion does not define you.
- If Henry labels you "rabble rouser" don't stop. Keep talking in class. Keep contradicting the AP stereotype and be yourself. Henry will like you more and so will we.
- Sassiness is something you earn.
- BRING A BLANKET. THAT CLASSROOM IS FREEZING.
- We might've made it so Henry doesn't want a word wall this year. Ask for it anyway. It was very helpful and one of the most memorable things of the whole year.
- Put word wall words in your own definitions so you can remember them better.
- If Henry offers to write you an excusal note for your next class, always take it. ALWAYS.
- Mr. Henry likes the Kennedy brothers. The Kennedy brothers are always the answer.
- The Kennedy brothers are hot and so are their grandchildren.
- If and when people start talking about Girls State and Boys state, SIGN UP. You will not regret it. SCHOLARSHIPS. COLLEGE CREDIT.
- Quizlet is a must.
- Ask Henry to dab.
- If you turn on the Techno Chicken yodeler, Henry will dance. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=
- If Henry is excited about something, you better get excited too. It's gonna be good.
- We learned to put the pro in procrastination and we still survived. Sleep is not important.
- Let me rephrase that, sleep is not important for quizzes. SLEEP IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR TESTS.
- Make friends with the kids in your class. You're going to need each other to survive.
- Margaret Thatcher and "Ronnie" Reagan were totally together.
- Make friends with the TA. Just do it.
- Make obscure references to things only Henry would get.
- Henry is engaged. His fiancés name is Brittany.
- Never forget that the snuggle is real.
Love, the kids who took it last year.
